The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says it spent approximately $5 million (around N7.4 billion) on Shock-Response and Social Protection (SRSP) in Nigeria in 2025.
The Acting Country Director, Serigne Loum, made this known at the inauguration of the Shock-Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) Technical Working Group (TWG) and the validation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) workshop in Abuja on Thursday.
Organized by WFP in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the programme was themed: “Leveraging Social Safety Nets for Emergency and Disaster Response.”
Loum assured that WFP would scale up its financial commitment and interventions in 2026 to reach more targets.
He noted that no fewer than 35 million people in Nigeria are food insecure, mostly in the northeast.
“Last year, WFP provided anticipatory support to 70,000 people in Adamawa affected by floods. The assistance was timely, allowing preventive measures before the floods hit. This year, we aim to reach 80,000 people for anticipatory action, along with more for social protection,” he said.
Loum emphasized WFP’s commitment to achieving zero hunger through operations and technical support to strengthen government systems in social protection, anticipatory action, emergency response, and policy coherence.
“Nigeria has one of the largest social registers of poor and vulnerable households in the region. The country has faced multiple crises for over a decade, overstretching national disaster agencies and humanitarian partners. If the SOP protocol is effectively operationalized, Nigeria will set a standard for peer learning in Africa and beyond,” he said.
Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, noted that Nigeria continues to face economic and conflict-related challenges, as well as floods and droughts that disrupt livelihoods.
He said shock-responsive social protection is now essential for anticipating, preparing for, and responding to crises.
“The validation of SRSP marks a crucial step forward. This system ensures coherence between material intervention indicators, governance, and organizations to better serve vulnerable populations. It provides a practical tool to clarify roles, protect coordination, and promote efficiency, transparency, and adaptability in response,” Olusanya said.
